IN ITS CLIMACTIC FINAL HOUR, 'BIGGEST LOSER' RANKS #1 IN ADULTS 18-49, TOPPING ALL FIRST-RUN, UNSCRIPTED NETWORK COMPETITION FROM 'DANCING WITH THE STARS,' 'KITCHEN NIGHTMARES' AND 'BIG BROTHER'

A DOMINANT 'LAW & ORDER: SVU' RETURNS TO ORIGINAL EPISODES, BEATING THE ABC-CBS COMPETITION COMBINED IN ADULTS 18-49 AND OTHER KEY DEMOS

BURBANK, Calif. � April 16, 2008 � Last night's live finale of "The Biggest Loser 5" matched NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in nearly two-and-a-half years (since November 29, 2005, excluding Olympics) and weighed in with NBC's heftiest total viewership in the slot since August 21, 2007, according to "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research (pending updates).

Last night from 8-10 p.m. ET, in a ferociously competitive two-hour time period, "The Biggest Loser" (4.4 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49 behind only Fox's "American Idol"-led lineup and well ahead of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"-led lineup.

In the climactic 9-10 p.m. ET hour, when Alison Vincent became the first female "Biggest Loser," the series finale ranked #1 in adults 18-49, topping ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" and CBS's "Big Brother" in adults 18-49 and other key measures.

In the 8-9 p.m. ET hour, "The Biggest Loser" delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating (a 3.6) in this Tuesday time period versus "American Idol" in more than four years (since February 17, 2004, excluding Olympics).

Despite the fierce competition, "Loser" gained, from its first to its fourth half-hour, 53 percent in 18-49 rating (to a 5.2/13 from a 3.4/10) and 46 percent, or 4.2 million persons in total viewers (to 13.2 million from 9.1 million).

For its full cycle, "The Biggest Loser 5" improved versus "The Biggest Loser 4" by 3 percent in 18-49 rating (3.4 vs. 3.3 in "live plus same day" ratings) and by 9 percent in total viewers (8.5 million vs. 7.8 million), a remarkable achievement in that "Biggest Loser 5" faced competition from "American Idol" that "Biggest Loser 4" did not face

At 10 p.m. ET last night, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.7/12 in 18-49, 13.3 million viewers overall) dominated the time period, beating the ABC-CBS competition combined in adults 18-49 and all other key demographics. "SVU" also won the hour handily in total viewers.

"SVU" returned last night to original episodes with that series' second-highest 18-49 rating since October 23, 2007 and second-highest total viewer result of the 2007-08 season. "SVU" was up 4 percent in 18-49 versus its prior season average for original episodes (4.7 vs. 4.5).

NBC ranked #2 for the night in adults 18-49, total viewers and other key measures with the network's second-highest Tuesday average of the season in 18-49. This marks the 12th time in the last 14 Tuesdays, that NBC has finished #2 in adults 18-49, behind only "American Idol"-boosted Fox. Preliminary 18-49 averages for Tuesday night are: Fox, 6.7/17; NBC, 4.5/12; ABC and CBS, 2.3/6; CW, 0.6/2. In overall total viewers, April 15 preliminary results are: Fox, 17.0 million; NBC, 11.9 million; ABC, 9.4 million; CBS, 8.8 million; CW, 1.5 million

Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated.